European Union threatens action over French Roma 'disgrace'

France's deportations of Gypsies are "a disgrace" and probably break EU law, the European Union's executive body declared Tuesday in a stinging rebuke that set up a showdown with French President Nicolas Sarkozy's conservative government.

In recent weeks, French authorities have dismantled over 100 illegal camps and deported more than 1,000 Gypsies, also known as Roma, mainly back to Romania, in a crackdown that has drawn international condemnation, The Associated Press reports.

European Commissioner for Justice Viviane Reding, speaking in Brussels on Tuesday, said she is "appalled" by the expulsions and that discrimination based on ethnic origin or race "has no place in Europe."

"I am personally convinced that the commission will have no choice but to initiate infringement procedures against France," Reding said, according to CBC.ca.